Presentation of credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs - Dr Magda Robalo, on Wednesday 12 March 2014, presented her credentials to the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hannah Tetteh to officially assume office as the World Health Organization Representative (WR) to Ghana. During their interaction WR mentioned the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as the key item on the WHO agenda; specifically MDG4 and MDG5 together with the support to strengthen the Health Systems in Ghana.

Dr. Robalo, emphasized that the WHO agenda and strategy for the country would be finalised after meeting with the Honourable Minister of Health to know the Government’s health needs and priorities in order to define WHO’s comparative advantage in the sector, in accordance with the Organization’s mandate (Picture – Minister of Foreign Affairs, left, receives credentials from WR).  

In response to WR’s remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration expressed appreciation for the strategic areas WR has chosen to address and indicated that MDGs 4 & 5 are the most difficult and challenging ones. The Minister further stated that the President of the Republic of Ghana is committed to making a positive impact in the areas of Maternal and Child Health (MCH).  

Presenting her credentials to the Minister, Dr Robalo thanked the Government of Ghana on behalf of the DG and RD, for the confidence shown in WHO and for accepting her as the new WHO Representative to Ghana.  She assured the Minister that WHO will use its expertise to support the government in all priority areas, including the critical area of universal health coverage, which is high on WHO and Member State’s agenda. She emphasized that without health; there cannot be peace, growth and development. Present at the ceremony were the Director of the Bureau in charge of Multilateral Agencies and staff from the Protocol Department of the Ministry. WR was accompanied by Mrs Sakyibea Akuffo-Parry the Operations Officer (OO) of the WHO country Office.

Courtesy call on Minister of Health 

Soon after the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Dr. Robalo paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Hanny Ayitey to announce her presence in Ghana as the WHO Representative and to solicit for collaboration between the Ministry and WHO. The Minister of Health received WR warmly with the promise of good and cordial working relationship. She requested the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, also present at the meeting, to arrange an official meeting with WR to formalize their strategic agenda and the way forward for Ghana. Mrs Edith Annan (EDM) and Mr Stanley Diamenu (EPI) accompanied WR to the office of the Minister of Health. (Picture- Ms Sherry Hanny Ayitey, left, welcomes WR to Ghana).

Dr Magda Robalo took over from Dr Idrissa Sow who has gone on retirement. Dr Robalo has served in many capacities in the Organization at various levels. Her last duty station was Namibia where she served as WHO Representative for six years.

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